Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be offered a new deal at Manchester United, says Jose Mourinho: 'It's possible, it's open'

  • Manchester United did not offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic a new contract this summer
  • Manager Jose Mourinho says United 'left a space of time for everybody to think'
  • Mourinho says situation is left with Ed Woodward and striker's agent Mino Raiola
  • United boss left the door open for Ibrahimovic to return, possibly in December
  • Mourinho wants two more signings - but would not comment on Nemanja Matic

Jose Mourinho has left the door open for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make a dramatic return to Manchester United.

Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in his first season at Old Trafford but it was cruelly cut short when he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht in April.

United did not offer the Swedish star a new contract but have allowed him to continue his rehabilitation at Carrington beyond the end of his old deal which ran out on June 30. 


Jose Mourinho has not ruled out a Manchester United return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Mourinho left the door open for the veteran striker to return when speaking in Los Angeles

United signed Romelu Lukaku for £75million from Everton as a replacement for Ibrahimovic

United signed Romelu Lukaku for £75million from Everton as a replacement for Ibrahimovic

The club signed Romelu Lukaku for £75million from Everton as a direct replacement in the knowledge that Ibrahimovic will not be fit again until the end of the year when he will be 36.

The striker is also being linked with a move to LA Galaxy, United's first opponents on their tour of the US at the StubHub Center in the early hours of Sunday morning, after promising a major announcement.

However, Mourinho refused to rule out re-signing Ibrahimovic as a free agent if the deal suits both parties.

'It's possible,' said the United boss as he faced the media for the first time in LA. 'It's open. Of course, we wanted to be honest and open for him to make a decision in case his desire was to leave.

'There was not a new contract, but there was a space of time for everybody to think, feel and decide.

'From his point of view, he made the decision of wanting to play football still at the highest level. He didn't want to hide behind such an amazing injury. It would be easy to hide behind it and stop and go to a different level of football. He did not want that.

Mourinho says the idea of a return has been left with Ed Woodward and Mino Raiola (right)

Mourinho says the idea of a return has been left with Ed Woodward and Mino Raiola (right)

Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season with Manchester United

Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season with Manchester United

Manager Mourinho has been speaking on United's pre-season tour in Los Angeles

Manager Mourinho has been speaking on United's pre-season tour in Los Angeles

'He made the challenge for himself to keep playing at the highest level.

'We opened our door for him to recover with us and at the same time let's make a decision that makes us all happy. If that is for him to stay and for us to wait, let's say until December maybe because I don't think before December he can get back to competitive football, why not wait for a player who gave us so much?

'We are exchanging ideas and it's with Mr (Ed) Woodward and Zlatan's agent (Mino Raiola), but the important thing is the final decision is the best for the player.'

Mourinho is hoping that Lukaku will give United the firepower to compete in the Premier League and Champions League next season. His team scored fewer goals than any of the other top-seven clubs, drawing at home with the likes of Bournemouth, Stoke City, West Ham, Burnley, West Brom and Hull.

Lukaku will be relied upon to add to United's firepower after a season that was short on goals

Lukaku will be relied upon to add to United's firepower after a season that was short on goals

The United manager added on Lukaku: 'He brings hopefully goals. He's the kind of player that everybody knows he's a striker so we're not speaking about a multi-functional player or create doubts about positions on the pitch.

'He's a striker and normally strikers score goals. The reason why he was so important and difficult to get is what he did in the Premier League because obviously there are other good strikers in football but the Premier League is a very specific habitat.

'Normally they need some time to adapt and Lukaku has played in the Premier League for the last four or five seasons, so now he comes to a club with a different responsibility than Everton or West Brom.

'I think he comes in the right moment because he is young but still has years of experience with the Premier League and Belgium national team. It's his first Champions League competition which was his main motivation, so the fact we qualified also played an important role.

Mourinho was full of praise for his new centre forward as United trained on their US tour

Mourinho was full of praise for his new centre forward as United trained on their US tour

'Let's try. He's not a player that participates a lot in the build-up. He's a player that normally plays in the last third. We had so many opponents, especially at Old Trafford, that decide to defend their defensive third, playing with lots of defensive players.

'We had in Zlatan that target man but he was dropping back and participating in the build-up. For the characteristics of the Premier League we need a target man, which is not (Anthony) Martial or (Marcus) Rashford, the No 9 who is comfortable to play in the box. We thought Romelu would be a good option for us.

'I didn't negotiate. It was Mr Woodward who negotiated with Romelu, his agent and the Everton board. The only thing I did was to call him when the situation was almost there just to guarantee him that he would be an important player in my team.

'It's quite a great experience the fact we worked together already for a few months. During the time when I was at Chelsea and Man United and he was at Everton, our relationship was always very close despite it not working well for us together.

Mourinho says Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial do not have target-man qualities

Mourinho says Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial do not have target-man qualities

'He's intelligent, he's polite, we kept the contact, the feeling and now we are back together in different moments and I have no doubts it is going to work.

'I told him and (Victor) Lindelof on the first day we started they were very lucky. Not that they don't deserve it because they did very well at Everton and Benfica to come to a giant like Manchester United.

'I told them they were lucky to belong to such a group because it's a really special group and is amazing for a player to change club. That's what they are feeling after three or four days. It looks like they are here for a long time.' 

 

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